County weighs fixes to another troubled junction

Effingham County officials may be taking steps to address another crash-plagued intersection.

Rumble strips and improve stop signs could be on their way to the intersection of Midland and Courthouse roads, which has been the location for several accidents. Commissioners put in higher-visibility stop signs at the intersection of Blue Jay and Midland roads before making the crossing a four-way stop.

Increasing the visibility of the stop sign may help, but being able to see at the intersection also is difficult, Commissioner Forrest Floyd said.

“I travel that road at night, and it’s just pitch black,” he said. “It’s like driving in a tunnel almost, it’s so black.”

Interim county administrator Toss Allen asked if the commissioners wanted to install a four-way stop there. Chairman Wendall Kessler suggested seeing how much rumble strips and a more visible stop sign help first.

Allen also said the county may need to take a look at improvements at the Clyo-Shawnee and Springfield roads intersection.

Commissioner Steve Mason asked about repairs to two ash roads, Union Springs and Springfield-Egypt, where there are sections he said “are just about impassable.”

“Union Springs Road is a good example of how an ash road has been beaten to death because of the log truck traffic,” Mason added.

Allen said plans for Courthouse Road Extension, another ash road that has been in disrepair, need to be finished. Surveys for property acquisition and topographic surveys have been completed, he said.